Workplace Skills for the Occupational Therapy Assistant

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Class
OTHA 2330

A course designed to complement Level II fieldwork by creating a discussion forum addressing events, skills, knowledge, and/or behaviors related to the practice environment.  Application of didactic coursework practice.  (WECM 51.0803)

Professional Behavior

Professional conduct and communication are considered to be essential skills in the healthcare professions and are required in the classroom, as well as, in any online course environment.  Students are expected to be polite and respectful, whether talking face-to-face, e-mailing, chatting, or posting online.  Behavior that is disruptive (i.e., excessive talking, rudeness to others, distracting behaviors such as leaving and re-entering class, cell phones ringing, etc.) will not be tolerated.  Cell phones must be placed on silence during classes.

Course Learning Objectives

Practice resource management; prioritize treatment interventions supported by evidence-based research; communicate with supervisors, peers, clients, and other professionals; practice techniques to increase employment marketability.  (WECM 51.0803)

After completing this course, the student must be able to:

  1. Practice resource management.  (ACOTE B.7.5.)
  2. Prioritize treatment interventions supported by evidence-based research.

(ACOTE B.5.28.)

  1. Communicate with supervisors.  (ACOTE B.5.21., B.5.25.)
  2. Communicate with peers.  (ACOTE B.5.21., B.5.25.)
  3. Communicate with clients.  (ACOTE B.5.21.)
  4. Communicate with other professionals.  (ACOTE B.5.21., B.5.25.)
  5. Review steps for OTA certification and licensure.  (ACOTE B.7.3.)
  6. Practice techniques to increase employment marketability.  (ACOTE B.2.3., B.9.6.)
  7. Explain the role of the OTA beyond the clinical setting and give examples of how the OTA can contribute to the profession.(ACOTE B.7.8., B.8.1., B.8.7., B.9.2., B.9.3., B.9.13.)

 Tasks

  1. Practice resource management.  (SCANS )
  1. Learn and implement time management skills.
  2. Be able to analyze and evaluate fiscal resources.
  3. Demonstrate basic skills in personal management.
  1. Prioritize treatment interventions supported by evidence-based research.

(SCANS )

  1. Describe the importance of evidence-based practice.
  2. Summarize existing research in an identified area of practice.
  3. Demonstrate an evidence-based technique on a specific topic.
  1. Communicate with supervisors.  (SCANS )
  1. Identify elements of positive communication.
  2. Demonstrate positive and negative communication in class activities.
  3. Evaluate elements of successful communication.
  1. Communicate with peers.  (SCANS )
  1. Identify elements of positive communication.
  2. Demonstrate positive and negative communication in class activities.
  3. Evaluate elements of successful communication.
  1. Communicate with clients.  (SCANS )
  1. Identify elements of positive communication.
  2. Demonstrate positive and negative communication in class activities.
  3. Evaluate elements of successful communication.
  1. Communicate with other professionals.  (SCANS )
  1. Learn the professionals’ roles of other members of the healthcare team.
  2. Identify elements of positive communication
  3. Demonstrate positive and negative communication in class activities.
  4. Evaluate elements of successful communication.
  1. Review an application for certification and licensure.  (SCANS )
  1. Prepare an application.
  2. Devise study skills and strategies in preparation for licensure exam (www.nbcot.org).
  3. Complete and pass a practice test.
  1. Practice techniques to increase employment marketability.  (SCANS )
  1. Demonstrate interview skills including appropriate grooming, dressing, professional behaviors and time management.
  2. Write a resume.
  3. Participate in mock interview.
  4. Critique interviewing skills.
  5. Practice answers to complex interview questions.
  6. Review and analyze an employer’s website.
  1. Explain the role of the OTA beyond the clinical setting and give examples of how the OTA can contribute to the profession.  (SCANS )
  1. Identify the various occupational therapy related organizations and how the OTA can use membership to make contributions to the profession.
  2. Identify the style and content of various occupational therapy related journals/periodicals and how the OTA can submit articles and research to make direct contributions to the profession.
Required Textbooks

Occupational Therapy Student to Clinician: Making the Transition, Lisa Davis and Marilyn Rosee. ISBN:  978-1-61711-025-2

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework:  Domain and Process, 2nd ed., American Occupational Therapy Association, ISBN:  978-1-56900-265-0

Quick Reference to Occupational Therapy, 2nd ed., Kathlyn L. Reed,

           ISBN:  978-0944480809

Ryan’s Occupational Therapy Assistant:  Principles, Practice Issues, and Techniques, 4th ed., Sally E. Ryan and Karen Sladyk, ISBN:  978-1-55642-740-4

Required Materials

Laptop computer or other materials for note taking; access to a computer and printer for completing assignments; email availability for completing course assignments and general course communication. 

Evaluation Standards

Assignments

All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period unless otherwise stated and are expected to be original, independent work.  Each assignment should be neat and legible, with correct spelling and grammar.  Acceptance of late assignments due to an absence, are at the discretion of the instructor.  

Make-Up Work/Exams

Make-up work/exams will be required for absences in order to ensure that students acquire information and skills presented during their absence. Students will be responsible for contacting their instructor(s) about missed assignments and/or exams. All assignments and/or exams are due upon the student’s return to class.  Make-up work, however, is at the discretion of the instructor.

**Participation includes:

  • Punctual attendance
  • Active communication
  • Class and lab engagement
  • Professional behaviors during all class and lab time
  • Preparedness for class (Ex:  All assigned readings are to be complete prior to schedule class/lab times.)

Grading Scale

A                90-100%

B                  80-89%

C                 75-79%

F      Less than 75%

Absences
  1. Attendance is essential for the attainment of course objectives. Students are allowed no more than three absences per course, per semester.  Students exceeding the three absences may be dropped from the course(s) and will not be allowed to continue in fieldwork courses. Fieldwork failures/withdrawals are addressed in the Fieldwork Handbook. Students will be allowed to continue in the remaining didactic courses, but will not be able to continue on to the next semester.
  2. Late arrivals and early departures are not allowed in class, lab, or fieldwork. This behavior can cause students to be unsuccessful in the program and could lead to dismissal from -the program.
  3. If a student is dropped from the program for absences or for academic reasons, he/she may reapply the following year.  (See Returning Students section in the OTA Student Handbook.)
Instructional Methods

Lectures; laboratory activities; reading assignments; individual and/or group projects, structured activities, and assignments; group discussion; audio-visual materials; and/or computer-based activities.

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.
Hope Statement
Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).
SCANS

The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified Foundation Skills in the areas of Basic Skills, Thinking Skills, and Personal Qualities, and Workplace Competencies in the areas of Resources, Information, Interpersonal, Systems, and Technology.  This course is part of a program in which each of these Skills and Competencies are integrated.  The specific SCANS Competencies that are recognized throughout this course are noted in the Tasks section of this syllabus; and the Scans Competencies chart is the last page of this syllabus.